Train hero took semester off from Oregon college for ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Alek Skarlatos, one of the three Americans who stopped a terrorist attack aboard a Paris-bound train in August, talks to reporters about the shooting at Umpqua Community College (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) ,

Alek Skarlatos, one of the three Americans who stopped a terrorist attack aboard a Paris-bound train in August, talks to reporters about the shooting at Umpqua Community College (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) ,

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alek Skarlatos, one of three Americans hailed as heroes for stopping a terrorist attack on a Paris-bound train in August, would have been at the Oregon college where a gunman killed nine people if Skarlatos hadn't been in Los Angeles to rehearse for ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

Skarlotos put off enrolling this semester at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, to compete in the show, a spokeswoman said Friday.

In an interview with ABC News (http://abcn.ws/1YUbsvv ), Skarlatos was asked if he would have taken down the shooter Thursday.

"I would have tried anyways," he said.

Skarlatos said he was with "Dancing" partner Lindsay Arnold when he received a text from a friend about the shooting. He said he then looked up the news on the Internet to confirm it.

"I just sat down for a second and then hid in the bathroom so the cameras couldn't see me," he said.

Skarlatos said he decided quickly to return to Roseburg to be with the community.

As far as he knows, none of his friends were among the victims.

"My heart really goes out to the people who can't say the same," he said.

Skarlatos and two friends, U.S. Air Force Airman Spencer Stone, 23, and Anthony Sadler, 23, received worldwide acclaim when they tackled the gunman aboard a train while vacationing in Europe. The heroics earned Skarlatos his stint on "Dancing With the Stars."

The next installment of the competition airs on Monday. If he misses that show he would be eliminated under the rules.

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